With Spring in the air and everyone now told to stay inside, we present our digital Mr. Local History Magazine. Remember that warmer days and gardening come to mind and we get to go outside and enjoy the fresh spring… Read More »Mr. Local History Releases Spring Magazine Vol.2 Issue 2
As the Bernards Township Historian, I’ve learned a great deal about the families that founded Bernards Township. I’ve presented this list to the Bernards Township Committee for consideration. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to let us know.… Read More »Bernards Township – Need a New Street Name?
Update: A new offering of vintage apparel by MLH honoring local businesses lost in our Bernardsville and Basking Ridge communities. It’s called our “Wear Local History” collection and it keeps growing. Check it out. What started out as a walk… Read More »The H-GOAT GAME – Loved Businesses Lost In Somerset Hills History #HGOAT
The J. Geils Band was an American rock band formed in 1968 in Worcester, Massachusetts, while John Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It was led by guitarist John “J.” Geils. But did you know that it all started when… Read More »J. Geils Was From Bedminster -Cut his Chops at Bernards High
Dr. Robert Finley’s Work To Help Blacks, Defeat Slavery and Colonize Liberia Many remember that Dr. and Reverend Robert Finley was a pastor for 20 years at a Presbyterian church in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Finley and also taught school… Read More »Dr. Robert Finley, Founder of the American Colonization Society
Films Document Basking Ridge and Surrounding Area History If you’re a fan of local history, two area film makers have created documentary films showcasing two of the most regarded historic stories in Bernards Township. While many people don’t know about… Read More »Films Document A Defeated Jetport and the Mightiest Oak
Bernards Township has had a long history of being a sleepy rural town. Then the US built the Lyons VA and everything changed as the population grew. Then AT&T came to town in the 70’s and everything AGAIN started to… Read More »History of Housing Developments in Bernards Township
Bernards Township has been a charted township going all the way back to 1760. With the early Dutch and Scottish settlers, the origin of the area belongs to the famed Lenni-Lenape Native American tribe.But what about the other cultures in… Read More »Bernards Township Origins
It’s Time for a Street Festival that Celebrates Bernards Township History! Join us rain or shine for this annual streetfair and festival. Expect visitors to the downtown Basking Ridge section of Bernards Twp celebration to reach over 10,000 as the… Read More »Bernards Township Charter Day – May 16, 2020
We call this the “2020 Welcome to the New Decade” Winter Edition It may be winter and for some strange reason it’s almost 70 degrees outside today. So after a nice long walk we came back in and designed our… Read More »Mr. Local History Magazine Releases Vol 2. Issue 1
General Washington, the Continental Army, and General Lord Stirling of Basking Ridge took a page from the history books and created a sophisticated communications network to highlight the British movement. They were called the “Beacons.” You never know what you’ll… Read More »Lord Stirling’s Rev War Beacon Signal Towers
While you’d think that hurricanes and floods wreak the most havoc, there has been nothing more destructive to properties in the Somerset Hills than fires. The Mr. Local History Project is gathering information regarding large fires in the Somerset Hills… Read More »Historic Fires in the Somerset Hills
There is nothing more inspiring then those who support our cause and efforts with a donation. We know there are so many great places to put your dollars, so we make it our #1 priority to make sure that we… Read More »Our Heart and Soul
Before we get started: The Methodist Church in the United States is 94% white, 92% third-generation American, 60% married, 69% believe in God absolutely, 42% attend church weekly, and 62% believe in hell. Several attempts were made in the twentieth… Read More »Bishop Edmund S. Janes – His Somerset Hills Story
Many people have asked why post all this history stuff on the area you’re calling the Somerset Hills. Well, call it passion. Call it intrigue. Call it local awareness. I think that the main reason is whenever I asked a… Read More »Grand Mansions and Historic Estates in the Somerset Hills